York Region Archives honours region’s history amid 10-year anniversary
By David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
York Region Archives continues to inform residents about the importance of preserving local history as it celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
To celebrate, the department is showcasing its 10th anniversary display at the York Region Administrative Centre until the end of the year, featuring photos, written documents, vinyl records, and other artifacts dating back to the mid-1800s.
The department also announced its new section on the official York Region website on Sept. 18. There, people can view artifacts, learn more about York Region’s history, and donate their own pieces to the department.
Archivist Evangeline Lee said that although the archives started 10 years ago, York Region has unofficially preserved historical artifacts for decades. She added that the York Region Archives Policy, established in 2015, formally introduced the archives to the region.
“[As a result,] we’re able to properly monitor [our artifacts], put them in proper enclosures, and ensure that they continue to be preserved for future generations,” she said.
Lee explained that preserving York Region’s history ensures that people can remember the past to help build on future decisions. A recent example is COVID-19.
“People were writing diaries on just how they were feeling,” she said. “Perhaps they were saying a lot of things. I know I can remember things that I did during that time period, and it’s formed a part of my archive, my memory, my history, my family, and things that have happened.
“All these important events, people, decisions, and things like that – when we do preserve it and look back, we can see what we did and hopefully…learn from anything to improve on.”
The York Region Administrative Centre is located at 17250 Yonge St. and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 10th anniversary display, located in the Great Hall, is accessible during these hours.
To visit York Region Archives, people can submit a request online or call 1-866-464-9675, ext. 71866. First-time visitors must complete a form, bring a valid piece of government-issued photo ID, and agree to York Region Archives’ rules in advance.
For more information, head to www.york.ca/york-region/historical-archives.
Photo: York Region archivist Evangeline Lee said that although the archives started 10 years ago, York Region has unofficially preserved historical artifacts for decades.